Carlton's mission at the start of the season boiled down to two challenges - scoring goals consistently without Brendan Fevola and then winning in the AFL finals.

Chris Yarran, Eddie Betts and Jeff Garlett went a long way to solving the first problem.

And Betts and Garlett will be crucial for the Blues when they try to achieve the second goal in Sunday's elimination final against Sydney.

One of the highlights of Carlton's season has been the form of those three small forwards, with Yarran and Garlett earning Rising Star nominations.

Garlett kicked three goals in last Friday's narrow loss to Fremantle but Yarran and Betts were largely ineffective against the Dockers, with Yarran one of two omissions for the clash against the Swans.

Yarran said the Blues have gone well beyond wondering if their attack will be potent enough without Fevola, traded to Brisbane.

"There was the talk at the start of the year - where are our goals going to come from?" Garlett said.

"No-one really was expecting me, Jeff and Eddie to do so well.

"We also have Jarrad Waite and Lachie Henderson as tall targets.

"Everyone is kicking goals and everyone is playing pretty well up there at the moment, it's pretty hard for oppositions to man up on (us)."

Asked which of the trio is the best, Yarran paid tribute to Betts' influence.

"I reckon Eddie, honestly - me and Jeffrey, he took us under his wing and he's helped us a lot to get into that side this year," Yarran said.

"He's been down for a few weeks, but we're playing finals footy now.

"If he plays well, the team normally plays well, he's kind-of a barometer up there for us and hopefully he can string a few goals together and tackle and chase like he did at the start of the year."

Carlton have certainly improved overall this year, but there is still the bitter memory of how last season ended.

Brisbane swamped the Blues in the final term of the elimination final at the 'Gabba to win by seven points.

Captain Chris Judd then received a three-game suspension for his infamous "pressure point" face contact, while Fevola tested the club's patience once too often by misbehaving at the Brownlow Medal and was sacked.

"We've gone past that (reorganising their attack)... we didn't win a final last year with Fevola and now he's gone," Yarran said.

"We've gotten to the same stage this year, (we now want) to go past that and to show everyone we can do that without him."

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